The playoff losing streak is over for the city of Pittsburgh when it comes to the game of football in the professional ranks. No one would have thought to this curse being broken would take the Pittsburgh Maulers to end it all. The Steelers have struggled to make some waves in the post-season over the past six years, but the Maulers did enough to win.
There were plenty of stars on the field in this USFL North divisional round as the Maulers took on the Michigan Panthers. It was an entertaining game that saw Pittsburgh emerge victorious in a fun over time. Many fans do not know much about the USFL, but it has produced some entertaining games and some post-season success for the city. The Maulers are two wins away from raising a championship trophy.
A former member of the Steelers continued his great season for Pittsburgh
Even though they did get the win, their defense did not have its strongest game. That is uncommon as the Maulers have boasted one of the best defensive units all season across the league. One name that has been getting noticed at cornerback is Mark Gilbert. He spent some time with the Steelers and could get interest.
He led the entire USFL in interceptions by posting four picks through ten weeks of competition. He was able to position himself well enough to not allow a single touchdown against him this year either. Gilbert has NFL bloodlines and should prop up an NFL opportunity soon. He still has some unfinished business in front of him before he can focus on other matters.
A safety from the Michigan Panthers could catch the eye of the NFL world
There were a couple of players on the Michigan Panthers this past season that stood out among their competition. One of those players was Kai Nacua, who played safety for that defense. They had one of the best defensive units in the USFL and a big part of that effort was Nacua. His stats for the year were not mind boggling like some of his teammates but he made an impact.
He was able to help solidify a backfield and create issues for the Maulers throughout their divisional round playoff contest. He was able to play all over the field and surround chaos to Pittsburgh's offense throughout the game. Nacua is someone that could make a lot of sense for a club that needs a safety to come onto their roster and battle.
One spot that could use some more stability and depth at the position is safety. Keanu Neal is the starter at strong safety and there are some depth pieces in place, but that group could look for upgrades. Nacua has spent some time in the NFL, but that was not a great experience for him. Maybe a second chance could turn things around.
He could get a jump in the competition in training camp too, especially since he is in football shape. Nacua and all of the USFL players are coming off a ten weeklong workout to try and prove themselves to other clubs around the world. Nacua could be an interesting choice to come in and compete for a roster spot this training camp.
An offensive star for the Maulers could be a late addition for the Steelers
One name that has often been overlooked this season for the Maulers is their wide receivers. Isiah Hennie is a player that has been consistently making plays for an offense that has struggled to find success at different points in the season. Hennie has been effective on offense, but he has also found alternate ways to affect the game in a positive way.
Hennie has been explosive as a receiver, but he has also been one of the better returners in the entire USFL. He has been the spark that the Pittsburgh offense has needed this season and he continued that this past weekend in their thrilling overtime victory over Michigan. He could be someone that could get an NFL look.
The Steelers could use someone like Hennie for a couple of different reasons. They are lacking someone in the return game competition. Right now, only Calvin Austin III and Gunner Olszewski seem to be the only options for those responsibilities. Hennie would be able to come in and give a third option for this club.
Other than just having a returner on the club, they also could use some different players in their receiver room. Hennie is a small but explosive player that this club seems to be lacking right now. Austin could be that guy, but that is no guarantee. Sometimes quantity is a strong thing to have when it comes to your roster’s assembly.
Perhaps the most dominant defensive player in the USFL could upgrade a position of need
One thing that stood out in the battle between the Maulers and Panthers on Saturday was the showings of their top defensive players. Both clubs have guys that could win the defensive players of the year for the USFL, and both deserve it. First up is Frank Ginda, who has played lights out all season, and his best performance might have come in the playoff loss.
Sometimes when you watch a football game there are guys that just take over and they're impossible to ignore. Ginda routinely popped off screen and was the best player on that field all night. He is a guy that looks to have NFL talent and bypassed players that were not on his level. This linebacker commanded that defense and excelled in all phases of defense.
One must be cautious about labeling a USFL starter a potential player on an NFL defense, but it might be fair here. Ginda was impressive throughout the season and gave it his all when all the chips were on the table. He gave the Maulers offense fits throughout the game, even though he was on the losing end of things.
When it comes to the Steelers, they need to find answers at middle linebacker quickly. They should not rule out the idea of acquiring some talent through a different league. Ginda is a player that is playing lights out and could help this club immediately. You cannot assume that he could start, but he could challenge for a spot on the final 53-man roster at least.
One Pittsburgh linebacker could make a lot of sense to try out for the Steelers
As mentioned before, there were two linebackers that put on a show during this playoff matchup, not just Ginda. The other linebacker wore the black and gold colors this entire season and make significant plays. Kyahva Tezino is someone that is also going to be up for defensive player of the year for the USFL.
Tezino nearly got to 100 total tackles in ten games, but he got to 94 during the regular season. Ginda was the only player to exceed 100 tackles. Even though Ginda had more tackles, Tezino was able to produce three times the tackles for loss than Ginda had. Both players had amazing years and should be noticed by the NFL.
Most thought that Tezino's teammates on the Maulers would be the player that caught most of the eyes of NFL scouts. That did not cause those in attendance to miss the talent that Tezino showed on the football field this season. He played out of his mind and carried that in the playoff game as well. He did not produce as much flash as Ginda, but he made plays.
When it comes to Pittsburgh's NFL counterpart, there could be some interest here. Tezino did not make as many splash plays like sacks, fumbles, or interceptions as Ginda, but he stayed consistent. He was able to be a rock for that defense and shut down the middle of the field. He could be another option for NFL clubs that need depth and competition at middle linebacker.